In a recent post, I talked about my first exposure to the Church, which led me to yearn to believe in something. At the time, I didn’t really know what I wanted to believe—just that I wanted to believe in something. I realized that though I grew up in a Catholic home, I really didn’t even know what Catholics believed, much less what I believed.
Now, in the interest of disclosure, I must interrupt this tale to tell you that the roommate’s boyfriend who introduced me to the Church, is now my husband, Mirko, of 18 years. How this came to be is also a very interesting story, but for another time.
So there I was, wondering what I should believe in, interacting daily with someone who was firm in what he believed. I was so drawn to his faith. I wanted what he had. But it is amazing, looking back now, that it did not cross my mind at the time that I might want to believe in the same things that he believed in. I figured he could help me figure out what I believed in, though I did not expect that I would end up believing in the same things. I especially did not expect or want in any way to join any church. That was one thing I did know for sure. [click to continue…]
I am so grateful that my kids are old enough that we have passed the days of Sacrament Meeting temper tantrums, leaving to change diapers, and fetching them from under the pews. I even stopped bringing the “church bag” with books and crayons and toys in it, because they really didn’t ever use it anymore. They are pretty easy-going kids that keep themselves busy by drawing on the bulletin or other available scrap paper.
Today, though, Cricket found my husband’s stash of pencils in his inner coat pocket. He then handed one to each family member, informing us that we each got a gun.
“I am not sure that we should have guns in Sacrament Meeting!” I declared.
Cricket responded, “No, Mom. We will shoot them very quietly—very, very quietly.” [click to continue…]
Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord (Alma 23:8):
I grew up in Michigan suburb, never having met a Mormon. In fact, I didn’t even know that “Mormon” was a church. All I knew was that they were a group of people that went west during the 1800′s. I later learned that there was only one retired LDS couple that lived in my town, and there was not a single member in my school.
My first exposure to the LDS Church was when I was moving back to my college campus at the beginning of my sophomore year. One of my new roommates was dating a member of the Church. That Saturday, they invited me to lunch with them. This seemingly innocuous invitation had a remarkable effect on me. Never before had a perfect stranger invited me to eat with them. (In fact, I had spent my four years of high school largely eating alone and practicing being indifferent about it.) But at this point, I didn’t connect their actions with the Church. [click to continue…]
My former favorite negro spiritual (“Ain’t Got Time to Die” that I sang in BYU’s A Cappella) was replaced a couple of years ago with Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? when my daughter’s high school a cappella choir sang it.
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, then why not every man?
Chorus:
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel
Deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel
Then why not every man?
He delivered Daniel from the lions’ den
Jonah from the belly of the whale
And the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
So why not every man.
The wind blows east and the wind blows west
It blows like the judgement day.
And every poor soul that never did pray
Will be glad to pray that day.
I set my foot on the gospel ship
And the ship it began to sail.
It landed me over on Canaan’s shore
And I’ll never come back any more.
It’s my favorite, because I have lived the question.
And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
This is, perhaps, the heart of the matter. I don’t believe this scripture if taken literally — at least not without lots of contextual additions. Sure, you have the enormous caveat of “which is right,” but I honestly don’t think God is as involved as the scripture might suggest. Or at least not involved in the way we often like to think he is. [click to continue…]
I have always struggled with fasting. It is very hard for me to connect going without food to getting divine assistance. (Not to mention that I plain just love food!) I went for a long time without fasting due to pregnancies, nursing and health issues. But over the last few months, I have known that [...]
At 6yo, Grasshopper is about as obedient a child as you can ever find. She is meticulous about observing the commandments, from the Sabbath day to the Word of Wisdom to modesty. Nevertheless, we have been concerned that she still struggles with prayer. She doesn’t seem to feel a connection with Heavenly Father, and her prayers are mostly [...]
When we were in college, both of Sam’s brothers bought Hyundais. And we laughed at them. Sure they were poor. So were we, but who would buy a junk car like that? Apparently we would. In 2002 we bought our first Hyundai — a Sante Fe — and it’s still going strong with over 100,000 [...]
New Year’s Day was 3yo Cricket’s first day in Primary. We have been talking about it for about a month now, and he informed me the day before that he didn’t like nursery, and he wasn’t going to go anymore (lol). Grasshopper has been dutifully praying for his success and trying to teach him everything he would [...]
This post brought to you by Cafe Well. All opinions are 100% mine. A couple of days ago, Sam and I stopped by Costco. Immediately we were faced with rows of vitamins and an enormous display of workout machines. There were treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, weight sets, even inversion tables (didn’t those go out in [...]
My husband requested that I post this question. We have started to cycle through some of our food storage. It seems a shame to throw away those big, sturdy #10 cans. My husband made stilts with them for the kids. Cricket (3yo) turned those into drums for the pleasure of all. And that is all we have come up [...]
Early in December, I read an article in the Ensign entitled The Joy of Sabbath Day Observance, in which Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis talks of his family’s choice to attend church, even when vacationing with family members that were not members of the Church. In the past, we have not attended church services on the [...]
I have — quite bravely, I think — posted my New Year’s resolutions for 2012 for the world to see. No, it doesn’t magically complete them, but the sense of accountability is certainly stronger when everyone knows what you intend to do. What are your goals for 2012? Share them here and let’s support each [...]
I love goals and measuring progress. Too many, I believe, take life as it comes, go with the flow, fly by the seat of their pants. And in so doing end up far from where they dream or hope. They just end up…somewhere…where ever. As you resolve to make 2012 the best it can be, [...]
I found myself feeling rather irritated with Grasshopper today. She tends to be very slow, and today it seemed that frequently she was purposely making the entire family wait. I scolded her, and at one point we all slowly walked from the car, leaving her still sitting in the car until she realized that she [...]
It’s that glorious time of year: Warm Christmas greetings, reflecting on the birth of the Savior, good will abounding, music filling the air, gifts from the heart, parties with family and friends, happy children, and my favorite holiday tradition of all…tithing settlement. This isn’t a post so much about the merits of tithing settlement, but [...]
I joined the Church as a 19y0 college student with all the passion and idealism of youth. I would surely keep every commandment perfectly. I would do anything, go anywhere, for The Church of Jesus Christ, even if that meant serving a mission in the most remote corner of the earth or having 17 children. But I [...]
This post brought to you by Gift Card Weekend. All opinions are 100% mine. Subway is one of my favorite fast food places because — as Jared taught us so long ago — you can actually eat a quick, healthy meal there. With Gift Card Weekend upon us, you can win a $10 gift card [...]
I love Christmas! Most Christmases I’m on top of everything: Shopping is nearly done before Thanksgiving and most presents are wrapped before the first week of December. Then we start ticking items off of our long list of “must-dos.” This year has been a little different. I was swamped with time-critical political issues up until [...]
What do you do on Christmas Eve? Here are two things our family has done for years and years. Christmas Tree French Toast Every Christmas Eve morning, we have this special, festive breakfast. (On Christmas morning we have an enormous cinnamon roll wreath/candy cane like my mom always made.) It’s easy and fun. And yummy. [...]
This morning, as we were getting ready to leave the house, 3yo Cricket was paging through the December Ensign. When he happened upon a picture depicting the crucifixion, he exclaimed, “Who did that to Jesus!” clearly horrified. I raced through the files of my mind trying to find the right answer. The Roman soldiers? Pilate? The Jews? None of those [...]
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